Whisky Drinker

Distillery geese retired

Chivas Brothers in Dumbarton, Scotland, have officially retired the gaggle of geese which were brought in to protect their premises in the 1950s.

The geese, known as the “Scotch Watch” were introduced to the Dumbeck warehouses by former owner Hiram Walker in 1959, with the intention that they would raise the alarm if disturbed by would-be whisky burglars.

The geese became so well known that they were used in advertising the Ballantines brand, as well as featuring in Dunbartonshire tourist literature, according to local paper The Lennox Herald.

A Chivas Brothers spokeswoman said: “The geese were no longer required for security purposes, so we decided to find them a new home where they could live out the rest of their days in leisure.

“We’re delighted they have now joined the existing colony at Glasgow Green, under the care of the Glasgow Humane Society. It’s fitting that they can swim in the River Clyde, with the views of our Strathclyde grain distillery as a constant reminder of their years in the whisky industry.”